Somehow feeling uneasy, Amy silently followed behind them. The path growing darker heightened her anxiety. As Amy trailed at a distance and rounded a large tree, she saw two children grappling with each other’s collars up ahead.

“!”

Just as she was about to rush out to stop the fight, someone grabbed her clothing from behind. Startled, she turned to see it was Dwayne. He put a finger to his lips and mouthed something.

“……”

Though she couldn’t understand what he was saying, it seemed he wanted her to stay still for now. Amy pressed her lips together and nodded, and Dwayne released her. The two of them crouched side by side next to the large tree trunk, peeking at the children.

The two children wrestled back and forth before separating again to size each other up. Ethan quickly regained his stance and looked for an opening to attack, while the larger Squire was preoccupied with catching his breath, his shoulders heaving.

Seizing the opportunity, Ethan darted forward swiftly. His fist struck between the eyes and his knee drove up into the stomach. Squire crumpled without even a scream. He then writhed on the ground like an insect.

Beside her, Dwayne whispered with a grin:

“That’s Tommy, the one who bullied Ethan the most. A few days ago during training, he kicked Ethan’s foot and almost broke his ankle.”

“Oh my……”

Just then, Ethan stomped on Tommy’s ankle as he rolled on the ground. Aaaargh! Tommy let out a pig-like squeal of pain.

“You can’t be a knight with a bad ankle.”

Ethan said coldly. Tommy hesitated and swallowed hard. Ethan pressed down even harder with his foot.

“Ow, ow, ow, it hurts, it huuuurts!”

“Isn’t this what you tried to do to me? You persistently targeted my ankle, did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“!”

“Anyone but an idiot would understand. That I’m capable of doing the same thing.”

His frigid tone made it seem like he really would shatter the ankle right then and there. Tommy begged with tears and snot streaming down his face.

“I-I’m sorry! I was wrong!”

“Is that all?”

“I’ll never… I’ll never mess with you again! I truly swear on my family name!”

“You think you’re safe in a group? But there will definitely be times when you’re separated, like now. And I won’t miss those opportunities. I won’t let a single one of you off the hook. Feel free to test me if you’re curious.”

“Eek! I-I won’t. I’ll never do it again!”

Tommy looked ready to wet himself. Ethan glared at him with a murderous gaze and spoke through gritted teeth:

“Remember. I only give one chance.”

Tommy’s battered face nodded up and down frantically.

“Y-yes……”

“……Go.”

Only then did Ethan remove his foot. Tommy quickly pulled his ankle back, covering it with his hands as he looked nervously at Ethan. Ethan turned away as if nothing had happened, crouching by the stream to fill his water pouch. Tommy finally scrambled to his feet and limped away.

“Let’s go.”

Satisfied that the matter was settled, Dwayne spoke and stepped back. Amy also carefully stood up and left the area.

When they emerged from the forest and arrived at the clearing where people had gathered, Bradley was seen standing there. As Amy passed by him to stand next to Noah, Bradley’s voice came from behind.

“Ethan.”

Amy turned to see Ethan standing before him, holding his water pouch. Bradley tossed out a remark as he walked past:

“Take it easy.”

A faint smile appeared on Ethan’s expressionless face.

“Yes, sir.”

Bradley turned his head and made eye contact with Amy. Then he playfully puckered his lips as if to say “See that?” Amy shook her head. It seemed she would never understand this breed called knights.

Suddenly, she found herself missing Rita, Mary, and Cecil.

At that moment, the very people Amy was thinking of were in the midst of cleaning a gallery full of ornaments.

“It’s already been two weeks.”

Rita muttered as she dusted armor with a wool duster. Cecil, who was polishing a shield with an oily rag beside her, nodded.

“I know what you mean. You’re talking about the Head Maid, right?”

“That’s right.”

Rita and Cecil sighed simultaneously. With neither the Grand Duke nor the Head Maid in the Grand Duke’s residence, it felt as if the sun and moon had lost their light.

“But don’t I kind of resemble the Head Maid?”

Mary, who was mopping the floor, suddenly said something strange. Rita recoiled in shock, taking a few steps away from her.

“Are you in your right mind? Have you looked in a mirror?”

“Hear me out. Who said anything about looks? Even if I’m just a nose-picker, I still have some conscience.”

Rita returned to her original spot and halfheartedly waved the wool duster.

“So what’s similar?”

“Being interested in men’s faces.”

“Ah……”

Rita couldn’t deny it. After all, while the Head Maid was indifferent to her own appearance, she was extremely sensitive to others’ looks.

Cecil also quirked her lips in agreement.

“Even His Highness the Crown Prince can’t be faulted for his appearance.”

“True. He’s a different type of handsome from our Grand Duke.”

If the Grand Duke was like a sharp sword sheathed in its scabbard, the Crown Prince was like a soft silk cloth embroidered with intricate patterns.

“I can see why the Head Maid served him.”

“After spending a lifetime looking at such faces, it would be strange if her standards weren’t high.”

“That’s true.”

Cecil suddenly lowered her voice.

“Do you know what she said to us the other day?”

“The Head Maid? What did she say?”

As Rita and Mary looked curious, Cecil suddenly straightened her back, tucked in her chin slightly, and widened her eyes. Rita made a face of disgust.

‘How dare she imitate the Head Maid? Does she want to be stoned?’

Mary seemed to be thinking the same thing, as she silently cracked her finger joints.

Unaware of the danger looming ahead, Cecil spoke in a passable imitation of Amy’s accent:

“You say you like handsome people, so why don’t you talk about the Grand Duke?”

“!”

As Rita and Mary flinched, Cecil shrugged her shoulders.

“That’s what she said.”

Rita sighed and shook her head. The Head Maid they so admired occasionally made such missteps.

“So what did you say?”

“What could I say? I couldn’t very well tell her that he already has someone in his heart, so I just made up an excuse that he’s too young.”

“Well done.”

“Then the Head Maid tilted her head. She said if that were true, why do we go crazy over 16-year-old Mark, the most handsome boy in the village?”

Rita and Mary nodded simultaneously at those words.

“She’s not wrong.”

“The Head Maid is sharp.”

Rita sighed as she carefully dusted the perforated visor of a helmet.

“Anyway, the Grand Duke still has a long way to go.”

Cecil responded nonchalantly.

“I don’t think it’ll be a problem. His Highness isn’t the type to just stand by and watch the Head Maid run away.”

“Whose side are you on? What if the Head Maid keeps refusing until the end?”

Mary frowned as she rubbed a stain on a vambrace with her saliva-moistened finger. This was similar to the question of “Do you like mom or dad better?” Of course, they liked the Head Maid more, but it was truly difficult to give up the synergy effect when the Grand Duke and Head Maid were together.

Cecil shrugged as she meticulously polished the embossed coat of arms on a shield.

“Surely she wouldn’t. I think if His Highness the Grand Duke says he likes her, she’ll just pretend to be caught reluctantly?”

“Huh? What makes you think that? She was treating him completely like a child?”

“She has to. They’ve known each other since he was young.”

Rita had a realization at Cecil’s words and went “Ah.” It was true. Having spent about 10 years in the Imperial Palace, it meant she had known the Grand Duke since he was seven years old. Cecil glanced at Rita.

“Rita, could you see your little brother Giles’ childhood friend Dane as a man?”

“Not even if my head was pierced with a spear.”

At her assertion, Cecil clicked her tongue as if to say “See?”

“In my opinion, the Head Maid needs time. Time to see His Highness again after being apart from him.”

Rita pointed the duster at Cecil in warning.

“If His Highness finds out, you’ll be kicked out. Watch your mouth.”

“I know my neck is precious too, you know?”

Cecil shuddered as if the mere thought was frightening. Rita rubbed her chin, quietly considering Cecil’s words before shrugging.

“But would that ever happen? His Highness the Grand Duke will never let her go, right?”

“That’s true. I guess I said something unnecessary.”

At that moment, Mary, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

“An opportunity will come soon for His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Opportunity? What kind?”

Rita and Cecil turned to her with puzzled expressions. Mary held the handle of her mop with both hands and declared with a solemn face:

“The Spring Festival.”

Rita and Cecil, who had been blinking blankly at those words, gasped.

“Oh my, Mary, you’re a genius!”

Rita patted Mary’s back vigorously, while Cecil hopped up and down on the spot.

“That’s right. Spring has come to the North, so we should hold a festival again. Wow, that’s brilliant, Mary.”

Mary lifted her chin and flicked away a strand of hair that had fallen beside her neck, showing off.

“Ha, what am I to do with this brain? It’s too smart, it’s a problem.”

Rita and Cecil only tolerated Mary’s boasting for exactly 10 seconds. It was that much of a great idea. The three of them chattered excitedly.

“Let’s go talk to the Butler and the Assistant. Come to think of it, spring isn’t far off.”

“Right, it’s already late if we want to prepare properly.”

“It’s the first festival since His Highness the Grand Duke arrived!”

“The last banquet ended abruptly due to an unfortunate incident, but I think we can do really well this time.”

Rita clenched her fist and shouted.

“We have no time to waste, comrades! Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

The three who had come to an agreement immediately threw down their rags and ran off.